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December 4, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Chinese gear may be boon for skaters Final round of talks today CM should have quit: Stokes Dalai Lama: acquiring
knowledge not enough Dental care must,
says Nadda |
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Woman, son found
dead; husband missing Forest officials held
for illicit felling 77 in fray for
ZP poll Stop excesses: HRTC body
chief Sub-Judge’s orders set aside Include Chamba in
draft plan: trust Leopard shot Dera inmate fears threat to life
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Chinese gear may be boon for skaters SHIMLA, Dec 3 — The entry of Chinese products in the winter sport equipment market my prove a boon for ice skating enthusiasts who have been facing problems in procuring basic gear like skates and ice hockey sticks for the past two decades. Like most other products, the equipment manufactured in China is reasonably priced and comparable in quality with those made in Europe. While a pair of skates imported from England or Aurstria costs over Rs 10,000, the Chinese have made it available for just Rs 3000. Similarly, an ice hockey stick manufactured in China costs around Rs 700, which is almost one-third of the cost of the sticks produced elsewhere. The prohibitive cost of equipment had been one of the main reason for the declining popularity of this thrilling game. Neither the fund-starved Shimla Ice Skating Club nor the ice skaters were in a position to procure such costly gear. In fact, Asia’s only natural ice skating rink, here, has been all these years surviving on skates and hockey sticks gifted by the Austrian Government, the International Ice Hockey Federation and other agencies. Mr Bhuvanesh Banga, secretary of the club, said that at least 150 pairs of skates and 50 ice hockey sticks were required . It has already placed an order for 100 pairs of skates and 22 ice hockeys. These would be, however, purchased by members of the club. The club had been facing problems in procuring skates ever since Himco, an Amritsar based company stopped manufacturing skates. He said that except for the lack of basic gear, the club had been doing quite well and it had overcome the financial crisis. This season, which commenced yesterday, over 350 members had been enrolled. Apart from membership fee, the club’s main source of income has been the tourists, who are charged Rs 50 per ice-skating session. Since the past few years, the club has not been earning much as it did not have adequate number of skates for tourists. The situation will improve with the availability of Chinese skates, which the club hopes to receive within a week of two. With snow becoming increasingly scarce, ice skating has become a major attraction for snow revellers who throng the Queen of Hills during the winter. Unlike western countries, the sport here does not have much of competitive element and is more of fun and frolic. Although rapid degradation of environment due to increasing population, indiscriminate construction of buildings and large-scale felling of trees, particularly around the rink, had considerably reduced the duration of skating season, the dry weather conditions over the past few years during this time of the year have been proving helpful in natural freezing of ice. There was a time when up to 165 sessions were possible and the season extended to almost 15 weeks. Climatic changes due to environment degradation have reduced the season to almost half. |
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Final round of talks today SHIMLA, Dec 3 — The four-member negotiating team will make a final attempt to work out a compromise between dissidents and Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, here tomorrow to resolve the nine-day-old crisis in the party. Highly placed party sources indicated that in case the talks fail, the scene may shift to Delhi, warranting intervention by the high command. Although the Central leaders have been in touch with the developments, they have left the matters to the state leaders. Mr Suresh Bhardwaj, Vice-President of the state BJP, Mr Jai Ram, Vice-Chairman of the Civil Supplies Corporation, Mr K.D. Dharmani, Chairman of the 20-Point Programme Implementation Committee, and Mr Karam Vir, a senior party leader, held a number of meetings with the
dissidents and Mr Dhumal. They discussed several proposals to resolve the crisis. However, the dissidents, remained adament on the immediate removal of the controversial PWD Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh, and Mr Onkar Thakur, OSD in the Chief Minister’s secretariat. The other contentious issue was removing the “imbalance” in the state executive and the disciplinary committee. However, the rebels agreed to defer the matter in view of the impending panchayat elections. They did not agree to the ruling camp’s proposal to change the portfolio of Mr Mohinder Singh and send Mr Onkar Thakur on leave. The rebels, Mr Dulo Ram, Mr Ramesh Dhwala, Mrs Nirmala Devi, Mr Des Raj and Mr Hari Narain Singh, who had gone to their respective constituencies yesterday, are expected to return soon. Mr Krishan Kapoor, Transport Minister, is already in the city. Mr Jai Krishan Sharma, party President, reached the state capital today to participate in the talks. There were indications that the legislators supporting Mr Dhumal may go to Delhi to “expose” the dissidents before the high command. However, much would depend on the outcome of the final round of talks here tomorrow. The party leadership is keen to see the crisis resolved at the earliest so that the leaders can work for the panchayat poll. |
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CM should have quit: Stokes SHIMLA, Dec 3 — Mrs Vidya Stokes, a senior Congress leader and a former Speaker, today expressed concern at the “virtual collapse of the administration” and said Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, should have quit in the wake of the revolt by some legislators instead of plunging the government into a state of uncertainty. The open defiance by three ministers and as many legislators, she said, had reduced the government to a minority. “In keeping with the democratic traditions, Mr Dhumal should have quit and not allowed the stalemate to continue. This is affecting government functioning at all levels,” she said. The Congress had all along raised within the House and outside the issues of corruption, mis-management of finances, nepotism and favouritism in governance. This has now been endorsed by Mr Dhumal’s own colleagues, who were better informed on the happenings in the government than the Opposition. She said the Congress Legislature Party was united and it would oppose the coalition government tooth and nail. “It is far beyond the realm of credibility that any Congress leader will ever dream of hobnobbing with the BJP or wish this government full tenure. The party will never be found wanting in readiness to come forward to shoulder the responsibility of governance as and when such an eventuality arises,” she
added. |
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Dalai Lama: acquiring
knowledge not enough DHARAMSALA, Dec 3 — The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who has made McLeodganj his abode since 1960, today expressed displeasure over the haphazard constructions and unscientific mining being done in the area, turning the place into a concrete jungle. Speaking on the occasion of the platinum jubilee celebrations of Government Degree College, here today, he said that McLeodganj was no different than Kulu and Manali where multi-storeyed hotels had spoilt the natural beauty. The Dalai Lama said the use of explosive and unscientific mining in the Bhagsu Nag area, adjoining McLeodganj, had caused immense environmental degradation affecting the rich flora and fauna of the area. Admitting that the livelihood of a large number of people of the area was dependent on mining, he said it was a handful of rich and influential people who were drawing the maximum benefit from slate extraction. He said acquiring knowledge was not enough unless it was put to use by helping others. “No doubt it is important to keep pace with the latest inventions in the field of science and technology, but it is through our rich culture and heritage that we can learn the maximum,” he stated. The Dalai Lama, announced a grant of Rs 2.50 lakh for the construction of an auditorium in the college. He lauded the Old Students Association for organising the function to mark the platinum jubilee of the college which was established in 1926. Others who were present on the occasion, included the Education Minister , Mr I.D. Dhiman, Minister for Animal Husbandry, Mr Ram Lal Markanday, Deputy Commissioner, Mr R.C. Kapil and functionaries of the Old Students Association, Mr Raghubir Rana and Mr P.N. Sharma. Hundreds of old students, who had come here for the platinum jubilee celebrations, yesterday had an interaction with college students and
staff. |
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Dental care must,
says Nadda SHIMLA, Dec 3 — Mr J.P. Nadda, Health and Family Welfare Minister, has underlined the need for making dental care an integral part of the national health policy. Addressing the sixth annual conference of the Indian dental Association here today, he said gone were the days when dentistry played a secondary role in health programmes. Dental health was vital for the overall health of people and this fact was well recognised now. He urged the Union Health Ministry to give top priority to dental health. Mr Nadda said there was an urgent need to formulate an effective strategy to provide proper dental care to the people, particularly those in far-flung rural areas. Since a majority of the people were poor, the effort should be on promoting cost effective methods for improving dental health. He said the Himachal Government had decided to adopt dental health as part of its school health programme. This would go a long way in creating awareness among children about dental hygiene and care. He said chewing tobacco, a habit which was earlier confined to eastern states of the country, was fast spreading in the state. Steps should be taken to ensure that tobacco was not sold in shops located close to educational institutions. He expressed gratitude to the Dental Council of India (DCI) for granting recognition to the local Government Dental College and said it would be provided with more infrastructure so that postgraduate classes could also be started. Dr R.K. Bali, president of the DCI and the association, said the council was satisfied with the facilities provided at the college. In fact, the available infrastructure would suffice for more than 60 students. He said the government should move a proposal to increase the number of seats from the present 20 to
60. |
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Woman, son found
dead; husband missing UNA, Dec 3 — Prem Lata (38) and her son Sunil (12) were found murdered and her daughters Aarti (9) and Puja (16) seriously injured in their house at Basdehra village, 14 km from here, today. Sunil’s body was found on the bed with the face and head smashed with an iron bar which was lying on the floor. Aarti and Puja were shifted to the District Hospital and from there to the PGI, Chandigarh. Their condition was critical. People gathered at the site of the crime said the power connection of the house was disconnected yesterday. Prem Lata’s husband, Vijay Kumar, is missing. It seems he left the house after the crime as his blood-stained kurta was found by the police from one of the rooms. He was not doing financially well. |
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Forest officials held
for illicit felling UNA, Dec 3 — The Gagret police has arrested several employees of the Forest Department and the Block Development Office and some locals for illicit felling of trees. The police has registered a case under Sections 41 and 42 of the Forest Act and Sections 349 and 120B of the IPC. According to sources, the police intercepted a tractor-trailer carrying shesham and tuni wood in Jardla Kadi village under the Gagret block. On being asked for a permit, the tractor-borne persons said they had oral permission. The police impounded the tractor-trailer and arrested Mohan Singh, Ram Dass and Subhash. Subsequently, people of the area made a complaint to the SP, Una, for the “wrong act” of the police. Their version was that Gagret block officials had given
permission to cut the trees and transport these. The purchasers were told that the trees, numbering six, were cut with the permission of the Forest Department. The SP conducted an inquiry and a case was made on against the employees of the Block Development Office and the Forest Department. The trees were cut on November 21 and were being transported on November 24. The police has arrested Deputy Ranger Kali Dass, Forest Guard Ram Swaroop, watchman Jagan Singh along with Preetam Singh and B.K. Sharma,
Superintendent, Block Samiti Office. According to the police, the value of the seized wood is more than Rs 2 lakh. |
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77 in fray for
ZP poll HAMIRPUR, Dec 3 — Seventyseven persons are now left in fray for 18 zila parishad seats of the district. Eleven out of the 18 wards are reserved for the women, Scheduled Castes and other Backward Classes. The Kharwar ward tops with 10 candidates. There are six candidates each in Barsar and Larha wards. The number of persons contesting from the Sarahkar, Samirpur, Bani and Saproh wards is five each. Four persons each are in fray from the Barin, Bagehra and Dhamrol wards. Three candidates each from, the gasota, Jangelropa, Bhoranj, Saur, Bijheri, Dhaneta and Amlehar wards are in fray. The Chabutra ward which is reserved for the Scheduled Castes will witness a direct contest. An official spokesman told reporters here today that the elections for these wards would be held on December 13, 15 and 17. He said that the district administration had already made arrangements for holding elections in the 18 wards along with 211 gram panchayats of the district. |
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Stop excesses: HRTC
body chief NURPUR, Dec 3 — The Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) Employees Federation has warned the Prem Kumar Dhumal government to stop committing “excesses” on the corporation which had been strengthened with the dedicated services of as many as 10,000 employees on its roll. Mr Rajnesh Sharma the newly elected state president of the federation and general secretary of the state
INTUC, in a statement issued here last evening said the federation would launch an agitation to safeguard the interests of the corporation. He pointed out that the state INTUC would hold a meeting at Shimla to check the irregularities and illegal plying of private buses in the state. He reiterated that the federation would not tolerate any cut in the present fleet of HRTC buses. He said the federation had also submitted a five-point demand charter to the Regional Transport Authority, Dharamsala, to check the illegal plying of private buses in the lower areas of Himachal Pradesh. The RTO has failed to take any action in this connection. He alleged that a private bus operator of Kangra district had managed a no objection certificate from the RTO Jalandhar (Punjab) to ply nine buses from Pathankot. Authorities had issued nine day time route permits to him for Pathankot-Manali route by ignoring the interests of the HRTC, he added. |
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Sub-Judge’s orders set aside CHAMBA, Dec 3 — Mr J.L. Gupta, District Judge, has allowed the appeals filed by Mr Devi Lal, Mrs Hem Lata Sharda, Mr Raj Kapoor and Mrs Kesri Devi, all residents of Dalhousie, against the orders of a Sub-Judge whereby they were restrained from carrying out the construction work, which was sanctioned by the Municipal Council, Dalhousie. The matter was pending before the Sub-Judge (Dalhousie). On a suit filed under Section 91 of the CPC for restraining the president and executive officer, Municipal Council, Dalhousie, and its other functionaries, the Sub-Judge directed the Municipal Council not to approve the building plans in violation of the provisions of the Municipal bye-laws and consequently residents of Dalhousie whose building plans were approved by the Municipal Council, were also restrained from carrying out construction and alternation works. Thus, the appeal filed by the aforesaid persons were allowed and the orders passed on November 1, 1999, against the appellants were set aside. |
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Include Chamba in
draft plan: trust CHAMBA, Dec 3 — The local chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage
(INTACH) has suggested to the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests to include the district in its draft proposal as notified in the Gazette of India dated October 6, 2000. The convener of the local chapter of the trust and noted educationist and environmentalist, Mr Harish Chander Sharma, in a letter to the Secretary of the ministry has expressed concern over the fast depleting green cover and forest wealth. Deforestation, unscientific mining, state and stone quarrying, haphazard construction of roads, floods etc, had played havoc with the environment Mr Sharma added. Meanwhile, the Chamba Welfare Association has also written to the ministry to include the district in the proposed draft plan. |
Leopard shot UNA, Dec 3 — A leopard which entered the town early today was shot dead by the police. However, during the shooting, a bullet accidentally hit a Head Constable, who was injured Earlier, the leopard injured four persons, including two policemen. It hid for about six hours behind bushes near the local police station. Hundreds of people, including the Deputy Commissioner, the SP and a number of policemen, stood watching it. The carcass of the leopard was taken to the local veterinary hospital for post-mortem. |
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Dera inmate fears threat to life UNA, Dec 3 — Kanwar Charanjit Singh, son of the late Guru Amarjit Singh of Dera Baba Badhbhag Singh of Nari village, near here, feels a threat to his life at Maidi Dera where he is residing. He said that on November 29, at about 8 p.m., three persons forcibly entered his room after pushing away Mr Sadhu Ram, the guard on duty. He alleged that the assailants were under the influence of liquor and abused him. They accused him of “arranging” the accident of a person. The assailants also allegedly threatened to forcibly throw him out of Himachal Pradesh as he was a Sikh. It was only when Sadhu Ram collected a few persons from the dera that he was saved, he said The next day, Kanwar Charanjit Singh lodged an FIR at the Amb police station. The accused were called at the police station and later granted bail. He has also written a letter to Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, demanding an inquiry into the incident. |
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